Just saying, I bought a used ruger #1 (years ago mind you) and was given the remaining 10 rounds from the first and only box that was shot through it. I have two rifles that I will never get rid of one is the ruger #1 and the other is my 450marlin. My babling is to say you might want to check around as the ruger #1 is just a great rifle.

If you weren't on a real strict budget, I would've suggested Shiloh Arms they remake the old Sharps .45x70 and .45x110 lever action breech loader. I would look for an old Sharps or even a Henry. I beleive Remington makes a decent one, but don't quote me on it. Budget single shots are a bit outside my knowledge.

__________________God made all men, but it was Sam Colt who made them equal.

H&R Handi Rifles are affordable and surprisingly accurate and reliable. If you want to deer hunt, I would find one in 7mm'08. As I mentioned in previous thread, I helped a Dad and daughter pack out a 6x6 bull elk that the 15 year old girl killed with her Handi rifle in 7mm'08 back in 2011. They are good little shooters that can be had for under $300.

A Thompson Center Encore will run between 5and 800 dollars new. On the used market look for an Encore or a TC Contender. Both are good rifles and you can get new barrels in different calibers for around 300.

Calibers for deer 243 win, 7mm-08, 308, 30-06, or any one between those will perform well on deer. These have the best factory ammo availability.

On the less expensive end of the market Rossi makes some decent little break actions for not too much coin. I got my son a matched set with 22 lr, 243 win and 20 ga shotgun barrels that are easily changed. It shoots better than him and he can practice with cheap 22 ammo.

__________________
You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education!

I would second what the others said, get a Handi Rifle or a Thompson Center Encore. The Handi Rifle is available in most popular chamberings, and the Encore is available in ANYTHING you can imagine. If it were me I would get a Handi unless I wanted an unusual cartridge.

The cartridge you use for deer is... flexible. It really depends on how big your deer are and how far away you'll be shooting them. If you'll be shooting small deer no further than say, 125 yards, then a 357 magnum rifle will do. Larger deer out to 225ish, a 30-30 would be nice, and any further than that you're looking at full-sized cartridges like a 308, 30-06, 270, 35 Whelen, etc.

__________________"... I cannot but conclude the bulk of your [politicians] to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth." ~ Jonathon Swift

There are still a lot of the Remington/ Baikal single shots out there. I saw several on Auction Arms a few weeks ago, most were right around $300. They are pretty nice rifles, much nicer than a H&R or Rossi. My preferences would run towards a High Wall or Low Wall, they are available for $800-ish used.

How accurate to you need them to be? I have a .223 Ultra Hunter that will stay inside MOA all day long, and a .308 that hovers around MOA when I do my part. The .30-30 standard rifle and the .45-70 will stay inside 3", which puts me in the kill zone of a standard whitetail deer out to the edge of the useful range.

Granted, they're not benchrest rifles, but they weren't built to be. Now, would I buy one today? Only if I were enamored of single-shot rifles. The bolt-gun makers (Savage, Ruger, Marlin, etc) are making fine entry-level bolt guns in that same price point. But, there is one season each year in this state that requires a single-shot rifle, so I have to leave the bolt guns at home.

Mayo my handi rifle is a .243. Will put 3 rounds into an inch at a hundred yds. This is while shooting prone while using a bipod. It is also with 100 grain rounds, my rifle does not like lighter weight varmint rds. Only after about 5 rds without allowing the barrel to cool do the groups open up. Of course that is common with most single shot rifles. For all practical hunting purposes H&R makes a fine singleshot.

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